Buzz Out Loud Podcast

Bill Keller from the New York Times let slip he's been working on a version of the New York Times for the Apple Slate. Great! What the hell is the Apple Slate? well obviously it's a much-rumored Apple Tablet. We also discuss T-Mobile's unlimited plans and hope against all hopes that they are truly unlimited.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Bill Keller: Apple Tablet ‘Impending’
http://gawker.com/5389636/bill-keller-apple-tablet-impending

T-Mobile Adds ‘Even More Plus’ Plans
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2354721,00.asp

Netflix Movies Stream to Sony's PlayStation 3
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/netflix-movies-stream-to-sonys-playstation-3/

Hollywood wants share of Netflix’s windfall
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10382717-261.html

Microsoft Offers Windows 7 on USB Drives for Netbooks
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/Microsoft-Offers-Windows-7-on-USB-Drives-for-Netbooks-225258/

$180 BlackBerry Storm2 hits the shelves on Wednesday
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139892/_180_BlackBerry_Storm2_hits_the_shelves_on_Wednesday

Sprint Announces Nov. Launch Date for Palm Pixi
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2354726,00.asp

Mobile net ‘heading for data jam’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8325634.stm

Verizon profit dips, but wireless stays strong
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10382841-266.html
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-earnings-verizon-profit-down-wireless-unit-revenues-jump/

Has AT&T Wireless data congestion been self-inflicted?
http://blogs.broughturner.com/2009/10/is-att-wireless-data-congestion-selfinflicted.html

Surgeon Performs World’s First 4X HD Surgery
http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/10/25/2010236/Surgeon-Performs-Worlds-First-4X-HD-Surgery

VOICEMAIL
Ted from Berkeley on hacking the Pre

Ralph on Windows 7 problems

EMAIL
Hey Buzz Out-louders,

Was on my way to class this morning when I saw this article in the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1846104,CST-FIN-apple26.article

Apparently Apple may pay to upgrade a station at the North and Clybourn red line L stop. They are set to open a new retail location close to the stop. I live near it and I can say with full confidence that that stop is pretty nasty and run down (like most of the CTA's L stations.) I guess Apple thinks it's not very becoming to have your flashy products available via a not so flashy station stop and is willing to fork over the cash to fix that.

Thoughts?

I've been listening to your podcast for about three years now. Love the show!

-Casey the performing arts management student in Chicago

**********

Hey buzz crew, I don’t if you saw this BBC news item about twitter and other social networking sites costing UK companies 1.4 billion pounds a year. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8325865.stm. The assumption is that because their survey of 1460 office workers indicated that people spent an average of 40 minutes a week on these sites that “such online behaviour clearly had a “productivity strain” on firms.” I call shenanigans, and I wish I could get my hands on the actually study so that I could fully debunk the it, but no such luck. My worry is that I read this at 8 am ET and I am sure by this afternoon mainstream media is just going to run with it with no thought or insight.

Love the show.
Marlon “the guyfromtrinidad”

**********

“Net Neutrality,” not allowing ISP to charge extra for special serves,
will kill the internet. If we don’t allow ISP to make profit from
investing in infrastructure, they will not invest money in
infrastructure. Unlike broadcast television, the internet does not
travel through a common good. Every inch of the internet in America is
built, owned, and maintained by private actors. In order to continue to
have good internet service, we have to allow those actors to make profits.

If you want better service, kill the government interference that
currently exists. Primarily this interference is cable monopolies that
are granted by localities. Since most broadband access comes in via
cable connections this directly hurts the quality of internet access in
America.

Kevin

T-Mobile's parent company is considering buying Sprint Nextel, meaning we'd have only three big cell phone companies in the US. But in a weird way that could be good for competition? We're not sure ourselves, actually. Also, a rogue ad hits the New York Times and we discover Pirates only see in 2D. Eye-patch FTW!

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Rogue ad hits New York Times site
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10351460-83.html
http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/what-to-do-if-you-saw-an-antivirus-pop-up-ad/
http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20090913/home-delivery-the-new-york-times-serves-up-some-malware/

T-Mobile owner eyes multibillion dollar bid for Sprint
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/6180195/T-Mobile-owner-eyes-multi-billion-dollar-bid-for-Sprint.html

Intuit to acquire Mint for $170 million
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/13/intuit-to-acquire-former-techcrunch50-winner-mint-for-170-million/

Japan’s cell phones may get DRM, at music industry behest
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/09/14/0137225/Japans-Cell-Phones-May-Get-DRM-At-Music-Industry-Behest

Twitter officially makes ads an option
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-twitter-officially-makes-ads-an-option/

MMS For iPhone rollout begins, two weeks early
http://consumerist.com/5358089/mms-for-iphone-rollout-begins-2-weeks-early

As it nears obsolescence, 802.11n approved
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8254085.stm

Microsoft: Windows 7 upgrade can take nearly a day
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/09/microsoft-upgrade-to-windows-7-can-take-up-to-a-day.ars

Valve co-opts L4D2 boycott by giving leaders free trip to HQ
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/09/valve-co-opts-l4d2-boycott-by-giving-leaders-free-trip-to-hq.ars

Last.fm to take over CBS HD broadcast stations in four markets
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-last.fm-to-take-over-cbs-hd-broadcast-stations-in-four-markets/

VOICE MAIL
Alex on micropayments

Daniel on Palm’s brilliant PR move

E-MAIL
I work as a tech for a movie exhibitor and wanted to share some technical details about your ongoing discussion of 3D.

Tom, the reason you may have experienced flicker or strobing in the past is the rate at which you are presented frames. The old active glasses that came with computer video cards often were limited to 60Hz, giving only 30 frames/sec to each eye. Our modern Digital Cinema 3D uses what’s called ‘tripple flash’ alternating EVERY frame to each eye three times. In other words it’s operating at 144 frames/sec from film’s standard 24 fps times 6 (3 flashes of the same image * 2 eyes). This is easily fast enough that ‘persistance of vision’ eliminates the strobing.

At our chain we actually have many rooms setup with two projectors, one for each eye. This completely eliminates strobing as the screen never goes dark.

As for camming a 3D film, you’d simply scrap the 3D aspect and hold one lens of the glasses over the camera and just record one eye’s worth. Makes it 2D, but you still have something. You can even try this in the studio right now, cover one eye. Congratulations your world is now in stunning 2D!

And for the show notes… Even traditional 35mm film is shown as ‘double flash’. The slow 24 fps you’d get if you only showed each frame once nearly everyone would say is flickering. But just by blanking and flashing the same image a second time (48 flashes/sec) you see that familiar film effect to the light level. BTW, when the shutter does block the light for the 1/96th of a second over and over for 2 hours it is actually near dark in the room. i.e. You’re sitting in the dark for half the movie!

Perhaps to long and off-topic now, but I hope you share this around the crew.

LTS! (and thank you)

Dustin Hollon

**********

Hey Ballers
I cant believe you guys haven’t covered CEDIA, awesome developement in cablecard, they announce cablecard tuners will be available for your current machine! None of this “Certified PC crap! Ceton had a couple of tuners that should ship in the 1Q of 2010. 4 HD streams at once, sign me up!
love the show
Jon the electrician, Tacoma

**********

Watching Episode 1061, about the iPhone at Microsoft event. Coca-Cola will fire you for bringing/eating Lays Chips because they are owned by Pepsico. Even if you bring them from home for lunch/dinner. Drinking a Pepsi product is also forbidden….”Even Off The Clock.” If you are caught outside of work with these items can also lead to termination.

Thanks guys. Love the show
Ross

A 4GB file can traverse 60 miles in 2 hours by pigeon, but that gets you only 4 percent of the file over the South African Internet. We also keep you up to date on new Android phones from Motorola as well as open-source map info from TomTom.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Motorola’s Android phone at Mobilize
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10344891-265.html?

Obligatory Apple recap
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10348169-37.html
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/in-qa-steve-jobs-snipes-at-amazon-and-praises-ice-cream/
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/09/somebody-has-to-say-it-its-time-for-itunes-lite/

With iTunes 9, Apple again disables Palm Pre sync
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/10/with_itunes_9_apple_again_disables_palm_pre_sync.html

Verizon makes the HTC Touch Pro2 official; September 11, $199.99
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/09/10/verizon-makes-the-htc-touch-pro2-official-september-11th-199-99/

Sprint to launch unlimited cell-to-cell calling, regardless of network
http://techvi.com/news/2009/09/sprint-to-launch-unlimited-cell-to-cell-calling-regardless-of-network/
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/17-09/ts_burningquestion

Google to push micropayments for newspapers
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10349375-93.html
http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/09/google-developing-a-micropayment-platform-and-pitching-newspapers-open-need-not-mean-free/

…but it might want to get Google Checkout right, first
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10348805-265.html

TomTom Announces an Open Source GPS Technology
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/09/09/2216255/TomTom-Anounces-an-Open-Source-GPS-Technology

Cryptographic tools to keep you hidden on Facebook
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/09/09/1931211/Cryptographic-Tools-To-Keep-You-Hidden-On-Facebook

A few songs a day keep the doctor away
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-10348123-247.html

Pigeon beats South African DSL
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8248056.stm

BOL in 3D!
http://www.vimeo.com/3964931

VOICE MAIL
Bob from DC about new podcasts in iTunes

Josh in SLC about Utah broadband

E-MAIL
Hay Buzz Crew

In regards to the Comcast 100MBs service

In Brooklyn, NY Cablevision is offering a similar service for $79.99 a month it's called Optimum ULTRA @ 101MBs

Its sweet except for the $300 installation charge but I'll eat a onetime charge rather than a progressive $300 bill.

Thank You
Matthew C

**********

Hey Buzz crew,

As I was installing the new version of iTunes today (version 9.0), I saw something interesting. I had to accept a new EULA (which usually happens), but this time, they had a summary of the important changes over the actual legalese. This appears to be an easy way to get around the fight between a EULA that the lawyers want and one that we can understand. The only issue: you have to trust the company (in this case, Apple), that they are doing a fair job summarizing the changes.

Love the show!

Andy the biological engineering grad student from Utah

**********

hey buzzards!

you mentioned how 3D TV is being used to prevent piracy and how it
will eventually circumvented.

yes, that’s true… but it would still essentially eliminate the
distribution of cam and telesync copies of films still in theaters as
cammers wont be able to record films in this fashion. you wouldnt even
be able to film a 3D image with a 3D camera for obvious reasons
(unless it were some kind of crosseyed lens setup to somehow pinch the
alternating perspectives into a single image, a la “magic eye”
stereoscopic images. just kidding).

pirates wouldnt be able to release anything until a screener is able
to be ripped at the very least, therefore putting more reluctant
viewers into the theaters if they just cant wait for it.

just another point of view.

(obligatory) love the show!
-oakie

Apple announcements were a little mundane. The One More Thing was an iPod Nano with a camera. We were more impressed with the fact that they added an FM radio. But really that's the No. 2 story. The Palm Pixi caught our eye for top billing. Should it catch yours?

Listen now: Download today's podcast

New WebOS phone comes to Sprint: The Pixi (formerly Eos)
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/the-palm-pixi-is-official-headed-to-sprint-this-holiday-season/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10347387-94.html

Apple announces something or other
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10323196-37.html
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/09/live_from_apples_its_only_rock_and_roll_event.html

The Beatles finally coming to iTunes, according to Yoko Ono (update: According to EMI, not tomorrow)
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/08/the-beatles-finally-coming-to-itunes-according-to-yoko-ono/

Intel brings Nehalem to the desktop
http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2009/09/intel-launches-all-new-pc-architecture-with-core-i5i7-cpus.ars

AT&T Snubs New York and San Francisco on 3G upgrades
http://www.businessinsider.com/att-snubs-new-york-and-san-francisco-on-3g-upgrades-2009-9

Comcast to offer 100Mbps service to businesses
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10347131-266.html

The coming problems for rolling out 3D TV
http://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/09/09/09/1342210/The-Coming-Problems-For-Rolling-Out-3D-TV
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-10266869-250.html

Say no to the super-sized TV, EPA hints
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10347497-54.html

Why motivation is key for artificial intelligence
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/09/09/1154200/Why-Motivation-Is-Key-For-Artificial-Intelligence

Exoskeletons for rent in Japan
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/09/08/2227228/Exoskeletons-For-Rent-In-Japan

VOICE MAIL
Richard in Santa Monica guy wants the love

E-MAIL
Hey Buzz Crew-

I was at Wal-Mart last night when I saw a couple of movies that I wanted to add to my Netflix queue, so I pulled out my HTC Touch Windows Mobile phone (which I haven't been real impressed with by the way) and added the movies to my queue using Netflix's mobile site. On my way home I was thinking...what if Netflix came out with an app that allowed you to use your phone to scan the barcode of a movie while in a store to add it to your queue? Love the show as always!

Big Bear Outlet Team

**********

Hey guys,

I decided to test out querying for the term ’search’ to see altavista pop up in google as no.1 like brian mentioned in yesterdays podcast. (I used to like altavista also), but waddayaknow!!! Bing is actually the no. 1 result, followed by altavista!

Is there any reason why google hasn’t put http://www.google.com as a search hit on the list when looking for the term ’search’ anyway?

Lavin

**********

Hi Buzz Crew,

You are making so much fun of the idea of Windows 7 installation parties. Well actually... this kind of parties are VERY popular and called: install fest (just type into Google). What you will see is a LOT of Linux install fest parties Microsoft communities also organize install fests. Usually they take place in some bar/pub where you sit with a bunch of geek friends and install a new release of some product. And after that you sum up the finished installations, unfinished once, also there are some disasters like a burned laptop etc.
So to finish this email - the idea is not new, not only MS does it but a lot of user communities

Thomas the programmer from Poland

Ok, but just to be clear, when I say it's time for me to get a pimp, what I MEAN is that it's time to get a PMP -- a portable media player. That is, perhaps, an iPod Touch. Anyway, you'll understand. In other news, the MPAA is trying to clamp down on your analog hole and break your DVR all at the same time and Apple's Snow Leopard is having a rough landing ... apparently because of the picture on the box.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

MPAA still pushing for output control
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/09/movie-studios-again-demand-hdtv-disabling-powers-from-fcc.ars

YouTube talking to studios about streaming majors like Netflix
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10337004-93.html

Vudu coming to Mitsubishi TVs
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10335687-1.html

Toshiba grits its teeth, releases Blu-ray player
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10344487-1.html

Apple ships a known vulnerable version of Flash with Snow Leopard
http://www.sophos.com/blogs/gc/g/2009/09/02/apple-ships-vulnerable-version-flash-snow-leopard/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10344478-37.html

And reports of “spinning wheel of death” are growing
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=219501236&subSection=Macintosh+Platform

Amazon slams Google’s book scanning
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10335976-265.html

Walkman outselling iPod in Japan
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ansrP2IonbRA

Samsung netbook to have 11 hour battery life
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10344384-1.html

Sprint announces Android HTC Hero
http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-10338820-251.html

Microsoft calling on thousands to host their own Windows 7 parties
http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2009/09/microsoft_plans_thousands_of_neighborhood_parties_for_windows_7.html

VOICEMAIL
Ben: My Palm Pre has it all

EMAIL
Hello Hot Buzz,

Maybe I’m an optimist, but the failure rate of the XBOX 360 has me hoping that the next generation XBOX console will be the most reliable console ever created. Playing it will be like eating at Jack in the Box after the E. coli outbreak.

I only hope that the ad campaign includes Bill Gates wearing a giant round mask and talking smack against the competition.

With Love,
Aaron in Vancouver/Portland

**********

Buzz crew,
I believe everything you mentioned on Wednesday’s show about what you need to make a phone into a decent in-car GPS is already available, at least for some phones. I have been using TomTom software on a Windows Mobile phone for a couple of years. It does not require live data, you can use the phone AND still navigate (with a bluetooth headset). It sounded like in your discussion you were thinking of only how the Iphone does it. Perhaps a broader look is in order. ( I sound like such a Windows Mobile fanboy, don’t I?)
Bryan
Jonesboro, Arkansas

**********

It appears that Rafe’s statement is true in general, but check out the
wording in the Vehicle Code:
http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

This part says “Don’t put stuff on your windshield”:

“26708. (a) (1) ( )1 A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with
any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied
upon the windshield or side or rear windows.”

This part says “Okay, MAYBE put it on your windshield, but only if it’s
a GPS thing and only in a certain area”:

“(12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted
in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest
removed from the driver or in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the
windshield nearest to the driver, if the system is used only for
door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated and
outside of an airbag deployment zone.”

So yeah, you can use it on your windshield if you follow those
guidelines.

Nicole (Lee)

Today, we hear how the Del Conte's deal with their enemies, find out what kind of deposit Tong makes when he visits a bank, wonder why on earth Google ever even bought the slice of AOL it just dumped, and look forward to the Pre on Verizon--but when?

EPISODE 1028

Verizon to offer Palm Pre in early 2010

Verizon changes tune on Wi-Fi

Verizon customers can sign onto Boingo

Sprint Nextel to buy Virgin Mobile USA

Texting while driving more dangerous than you think

iPhone OS 3.1 will usher in 'augmented reality' apps

Google abandons AOL investment

Google Voice pulled from iPhone

B of A to reverse policy and start closing branches--online and mobile banking the reason

Microsoft uses human computing game to tune Bing

Woman sued $50,000 for Tweet

Follow-up on Yelp lawsuits

Just like the LG Watch, we are a 21st century product for the 21st century consumer. Which means we exist now for people who exist now. Sigh. Ryan Block of Gdgt joins us to talk about an algorithm to steal your Social Security number and how Gmail finally came outta beta! Yay! Bad times and good times all in one. Now if only we could get those implants for cell phones. In our neck people, in our neck!

EPISODE 1013

Gdgt
http://www.gdgt.com/

New algorithm guesses SSNs using date and place of birth
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/07/social-insecurity-numbers-open-to-hacking.ars

Google Apps shed beta label
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10280473-2.html

Palm Pre hitting U.K., Ireland, Germany and Spain by Christmas
http://www.slashgear.com/palm-pre-hitting-uk-ireland-germany-spain-by-christmas-0748655/

Sprint offers a Netbook for under a buck. Will ATandT and Verizon follow?
http://jkontherun.com/2009/07/06/cheap-netbook-from-sprint/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10280886-94.html

Sony Viao W: the actual Sony Netbook
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349770,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03069TX1K0001121

LG Watch really coming!
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/07/07/lg-to-finally-sell-that-dumb-phone-watch-for-2000/

Microsoft opens Hohm to energy monitoring
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10280237-54.html

Toyota going whole hog on plug-in hybrids by 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/earth2Tech/idUS23679304520090706

VW to sell electric car by 2013
http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20090706-153053.html

McDonald's to charge electric vehicles
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/07/07/green-mcdonalds-installs-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/

Haystack, anti-censorship tool specifically for users in Iran, to launch soon.
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/06/haystackanticensor.html

Facebook's own estimates show declining student numbers; now more grandparents than high school users
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebooks_own_estimates_show_youth_flight_from_sit.php

Sprint to preload bar code reader on Samsung Exclaim: a first for a U.S. carrier
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/ScanLife/Exclaimpreload/prweb2611374.htm

Voice mail
Mike the Sales Guy to potential sponsors

E-mail
Hi Buzz Crew,

Just wanted to remind you that there is a very special time occurring
tomorrow.

12:34:56 7/8/9

The only time this occurs this century. Unless, of course you follow
the d/m/y standard. Then YOUR special time will occur on August 7th!

Thought Tom, in particular would appreciate this!

Can you recommend an online clock site that has the time/date
displayed in that format?

Shove the low!

Todd in PEI Canada (where I will experience my special second 4
hours before you do in SF!)

***********

Hello Tom and various rotating Buzzing hosts,
I just might have an extreme solution to getting those pesky LinkedIN profiles deleted ... The next time I am over at my Data Center I will see if I can hook a cable off the LinkedIN server farm in the cage next to mine and when the guy comes over to fix it I will hold him hostage until we get some deletions.

Peper 'PKTHerder'
The Packet Herder from Denver

(Pronounced like Pepper ... and no I am not a Dr., I was not a Sgt, I don't have a lonely heart, I don't belong to club or a band, and my wife's name nor nickname does not happen to be salt, however, my family does have a six pack of Dr. Pepers. ... Wouldn't you like to be a Peper too?)

As the new owners of the Pirate Bay take over they will have to eventually change things and sell out. So Rafe has dubbed them as Cruiseship Bay. We also discuss the pyrrhic victory of RIAA over Usenet.com and Rafe and Natali hate some more on Verizon.

EPISODE 1009

RIAA triumphs in Usenet copyright case
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10276607-93.html

Cash for Pirate Bay file-sharers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8128551.stm

Twitter reworks following lists, adds functionality
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13515_3-10276568-26.html

Obama adminisration lauches IT spending tracking site
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/technology/01dashboard.html?_r=1

Verizon says house shoppers crave high-fiber Internet diet
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/06/verizon-says-house-shoppers-crave-high-fiber-internet-diet.ars

New Click-Fraud Attack Is Stealthiest Yet
http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/30/2237256/New-Click-Fraud-Attack-Is-Stealthiest-Yet

Frustratingly long secret code enables totally useful landscape email on Pre
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/frustratingly-long-secret-code-enables-totally-useful-landscape/

GDGT launch
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10276755-2.html

Chicago ‘burb ditches red light cameras, no safety advantage
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/07/chicago-burb-ditches-red-light-cameras-no-safety-advantage.ars

Most Complete Topographical Map of Earth Complete
http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/06/30/1650208/Most-Complete-Topographical-Map-of-Earth-Complete

VOICEMAIL
Nick wants to take over the world… or at least the Internet

EMAIL
in an effort to confirm Molly’s suspicion of AT&T as the worst 3G network, i present this link to PC World’s 3G test they ran in 13 U.S. cities

summary:
Verizon=fastest
Sprint=most reliable (by a small margin over verizon)
AT&T=blows (~20% less reliable than the other 2)

and a good note at the end that seems to be a recurring statement:
“Somewhat surprisingly, our testers also found that the “bars of service” readings on their phones were rarely an accurate predictor of the quality of the ensuing connection. In most places and with most wireless providers, the “bars” did little more than indicate whether the phone had access to some service or to no service.”

thanks for an entertaining show
corey
http://www.pcworld.com/article/167391/a_day_in_the_life_of_3g.html

**********

Hi Buzz crew,

Just a quick e-mail on the subject of the Amazon referral scheme and the
impact of local tax legislation here in Hawaii.
When the legislation went through state and house, very few locals
seemed aware of it, then all of a sudden one of the members of a major
local tech community site here, TechHui, caught wind of it and alerted
everyone:
http://www.techhui.com/profiles/blogs/urgent-help-stop-hb1405-the?id=1702911%3ABlogPost%3A44364
From there numerous letters and petitions to house representatives and
Governor Lingle went out explaining the significant financial impact it
was liable to have on local business and citizens, along with TV and
radio interviews; no doubt, though, a number of residents here not
members of techhui were surprised to receive e-mails telling them their
referal income was suddenly being stopped by numerous websites, not just
Amazon.

Today it was announced that Governor Lingle has decided to Veto the bill
(HB1405), amongst others:
http://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com/wp-content/upLoads/2009/06/govs-veto-list.pdf

That was one significant hurdle, now all that’s left is to persuade the
House not to override her veto. It’s an amazing tribute to what local
communities can do if they collaborate and put the pressure on.

Paul, the Brit in Hawaii.

**********

Two things..
I don't see any risk of microbes from earth infecting another local planet, since any microbes already on the planet are well adapted to local conditions and our microbes would be wimps in comparison.
Likewise microbes from space is not a real concern...do you have ANY idea about how many different microbes/viruses are already on this planet (check out Bergey's manual for a list of sorts..it is the bible of microbiology). The competition on this planet is extreme..
Have you not heard of Darwin?
From: Bob..Your tame microbiologist.

Your discussion about NASA was very interesting....it seems to support the concepts I've outlined at http://www.h2liftship.com , which has had no response to speak of since I put it up...such is the risk of being way forward thinking..

Thanks,
Bob Freeman

**********

Hey there buzz crew
This is Rohan from India.

It is my first time writing to you guys.

Regarding the whole debate over the caps lock key, how about adapting
the “double tap” of the shift key like the iphone/ipod touch to
regular keyboards. I too accidentally hit the damned caps lock key on
my macbook and just wish that they would get rid of it.

On other topics (just to fuel your anger towards your telecom
companies), we Indians only have to pay 1 paisa (the “cent” of Rupees)
for sending an SMS, and nothing for receiving. If you take the current
exchange rates, that would be just 0.00021 U.S. cents. Enjoy!

Oh by the way, we converted to the Metric system in 1954 and just last
year have also planted our Flag on the moon. You can ask ISRO (Indian
Space Research Organization) to help you convert NASA’s Imperial
measurements.

love the show!

Rohan

Chinese filtering software has been criticized for having holes. The solution? Fix it. How communist. We also give you a hack for getting free tethering on the iPhone and we bemoan the fate of MySpace.

EPISODE 998

Opera Unite aims to reinvent the Web
http://blogs.siliconvalley.com/gmsv/2009/06/hi-my-name-is-opera-and-ill-be-your-server-today.html

http://mashable.com/2009/06/16/opera-unite/

AT&T won’t charge extra for MMS on iPhone
http://www.applethoughts.com/news/show/94126/at-t-not-planning-on-charging-for-mms.html

…And here’s how to get free tethering
http://9to5mac.com/9to5mac-tether-iPhone-hack

Hackers find remote iPhone crack
http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/16/0017221/Hackers-Find-Remote-iPhone-Crack

Facebook finally catches up to MySpace in the U.S.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/15/facebook-finally-catches-up-to-myspace-in-the-us/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10265163-2.html

MySpace slashes head count by 30 percent
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10265566-36.html

Twitter downtime gets delayed for Iranian election news
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10265213-2.html

Chinese filtering software ordered to be cleaned up
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/business/global/16censor.html

Blackberry Tour for international Sprint and Verizon customers
http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=67187&full_skip=1

Mercedes demos a car with airbags *everywhere*
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10263120-48.html

Cars driving in the parking lot generate electricity to power a U.K. supermarket
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1193070/Shoppers-cars-soon-able-power-supermarkets.html

Science Academies: Renewable power tech ready for big growth
http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/06/science-academies-renewable-power-tech-ready-for-big-growth.ars

VOICEMAIL
Shalin – Ranger Panda for Mascot

Aaron – Another way to call out from Google Voice

E-MAIL
Dear Buzz Crew:

One again this is Siavash, from Tehran/Iran. As you may know from the news there a revolution going on in Iran, after the changes in votes by Iran's government, people are on the street every day and night.
We have no access to technology at all, all the mobile services and SMS,MMS and EDGE services are down, Facebook, YouTube and many other sites have been filtered, most of the time there is no internet connection with ADSL lines and a very powerful noise in satellite services, because of these problems I was not able to send you the videos I made for 1000 episode of BOL, know I'm using a 2way satellite service which has a very low bandwidth because of the noise, and I'm not able to download or stream BOL anymore.

Just wanted to say congratulations to all you guys for making this 1000 episode happen, I've enjoyed every minute of the show since the episode 50 or 60 that I started listening, and I have to say you guys are the best in tech field.

I hope there will be a day that we could have proper internet access and I could join you guys again.
Here is a link to my Facebook album and some pictures of what is going on in Tehran : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24107&id=1081415824&l=c9e2b20028

I Love the Show, YOU ARE THE BEST

Best Regards

Siavash

***********

Hey BOL,

Just wanted to pass on an idea on getting subsidized iphone upgrades annually, instead of every 2 years. My friend does this and it’s so simple. I can’t believe no one else has sent this in. All he did was add a second line to his account for 9.99 per month. The second line shares minutes, has no extras, no texting, nothing. Just the cheapest 2nd line plan you can get. Now he can upgrade either line and have the AT&T store switch phone numbers on each line everytime he upgrades. If you want to get the new iphone each year, it might be work 120 bucks per year to have the luxury of upgrading yearly at the subsidized price.

Love the show,
Ragan

***********

Hey Guys,
By now, I’m sure someone has mentioned this already, but thought I’d pass it along.

In epised 994 you discussed maps for the iPhone and the possibility of TomTom using Open Street Maps. TomTom bought TeleAtlas a year or two ago, so it’s doughtful they can lower their cost with open source maps.

Love the show, keep rockin’ Molly,

Mike

***********

I think it is great that Microsoft is donating to the poor for everyone who downloads IE8. Now can we get them to donate $6 for each person who downloaded IE6 and put this in a fund for the mental health care of all the web professionals who had to support that piece of #$%&^*?

Chris the podcaster

L.T.S.

***********

The 1000th episode is Thursday June 18th. There will be no pre-show, here will be a live audience it will be streamed live on cnet.com/live. There will be audio and video on demand afterwards in the normal podcast feeds.

1000th episode meetup in San Francisco: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=113374732587

Send us buzz at buzz@cnet.com or call us at 1-800-616-CNET (2638)